Baseboard radiator



1959 T. o. MARIN! 2,872,162

BASEBOARD RADIATOR Filed April 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l r. M I I] I afifiwzz/ r n, 1 28 \i if) INVENTOR THOMAS 0. MAR/NI v ATTORNEY-3 Feb. 3, 1959 T. o. MARIN] 2,872,162

' BASE-BOARD RADIATOR Filed April 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR moms 0. MAR/1w ATTORNEYS lhA EllflARl) RADIATOR Thomas K). Martini, Haddon Heights, N. J.

Application April 25, 1956, Serial No. 580,519

2 Claims. (Cl. 257-133) The present invention broadly relates to heat exchange apparatus. More particularly, this invention relates to the art of perimeter heating.

The invention is specifically directed to heat exchange apparatus of the type known as baseboard radiators constructed and arranged to extend along the base of the wall of an enclosure to be heated and to simulate a baseboard.

Since baseboard heaters that heat by convection and include a casing surrounding a length of metallic tubing having heat conducting fins are generally known, the present invention has for an object to provide an improved apparatus of this character which incorporates a plurality of heating units along the length of the apparatus and which further includes fixed louvers channeling the flow of hot air.

More particularly, the invention has for an object to provide a baseboard heating apparatus of simple construction that is economical to manufacture, can be installed with the minimum of labor, and provides maximum heat output in relation to its size, and which further channels the how of hot air outwards of the top of the unit.

It is a specific object, therefore, of this invention to provide the combination including a back panel adapted to be mounted to the base of a wall of an enclosure to be heated, spaced supporting means carried by the panel for supporting a finned heating unit, an intermediate panel defining an air passage between it and the back panel, additional spaced supporting means carried by the intermediate panel and projecting forwardly thereof for supporting a second finned heating unit on the same level as the first, a front panel secured to the additional supporting means and defining a second heating channel parallel to the first and fixed louver means disposed above the channels for directing the hot air passing through the channels and over the units forwardly of the front panel.

Other and further objects and advantages of the device will be clear from the following specification, taken with the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a section of baseboard radiator assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Figure 1.

'Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of a strap and clip.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an end enclosure for the device of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bracket of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an end View similar to Figure 2 of a slightly different exemplification of the device.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that one or more heat exchange tubes 10, which may be of standard material and construction, are supported above the floor of a room to be heated so that cool air from the room may pass by convection over the heat exchange ,fillti? i' aterrted Feb. 3, i959 tubes and be returned again to the room in a heated condition. The support for the heat exchange tube 10 comprises the back panel 11, which is firmly secured to the wall of the room. This back panel is formed with an integral hood element 12, extending outwardly or forwardly and slightly downwardly from the top of back panel 11, to form the top of the baseboard heater or Convector. The back panel 11 is provided near the bottom edge with spaced, upwardly open slots or pockets 13. Above each of these slots there is provided an inwardly struck strap 14 presenting slots 15 along its parallel sides.

A backet 16 is formed of a sheet of metal bent into L-shape and having a tongue 17 on the base of the L to extend into the pocket 13, and an extension 13 extending laterally and forming part of the base of the L which may be swung into position under the strap 14 after the extending tongue 17 has been seated in the pocket 13.

A clip 18' is left on the end of extension 18, which, after insertion of extension 18 under the strap, may be bent backwards on itself to prevent removal of extension 18 from under the strap.

The body of the L then projects at right angles to the back panel 11. This bracket is notched to provide a lower portion 19 and an upper portion 29. Lower portion 19 is formed at the top with a concavity 26 into which, as seen in Figure 2, the heat exchange tube 1i is introduced and by which the heat exchange tube is supported.

The portion 2G is spaced far enough above 19 to provide sufiicient space for easy insertion and removal of heat exchange tube It It will be noted that the fins on the heat exchange tube straddle the bracket. The upper portion 20 is provided at its upper edge with a downwardly extending slot 21 having oppositely disposed serrated edges. This slot 21 is located approximately in the middle of the upper portion 2t).

The forward edge of the portion 26 is formed into an upwardly extending tab 22, and lower portion 19 is formed with a downwardly extending tab 23.

A center panel 24 is provided with a hook portion 25 at the top and a similar hook portion 25 at the bottom. These hook portions extend the length of the panel and are so designed that they snap over tabs 22 and 23. Since multiple tubes 10 are used, brackets 16 which are similar to brackets 1d are fastened to the outer face of panel 24. The mode of fastening is preferably by spot welding. This bracket is provided with a concavity or notch 26', slot 21 and tabs 22' and 23'. The downwardly extending tongue 17, however, is removed. After application of center panel 24 with its brackets 16 spaced therealong, an additional heat exchange tube 16; is placed in notch 26 and a front panel 24 having upper and lower bent edges is snapped over tabs 22', 23.

A rear louver element 27 is placed in slot 21, this louver comprises a downwardly extending portion which is forced between the serrations of slots 21 to be securely gripped thereby and has a portion extending upwardly and outwardly to terminate approximately in the plane of panel 24 and the forward edge of hood element 12. A similar front louver element 28 is similarly mounted in slot 21' so that the front edges of hood element 12 and louvers 27 and 28 continue the plane of front panel 24 to give a decorative appearance, and to form channels for the air which passes by convection upwardly over the heat exchange tubes 10, 10'.

It will be noted that the back panel and hood element 11, 12, panel elements 24, 24, and louvers 27, 28, may be made of any convenient length. It is desirable that these lengths be such as to require a minimum number of lengths in making an installation, however, they must be short enough so as to be easy to handle by the mechanic making the installation. It is necessary therefore, to provide joint covering elements 29 to cover the joint between adjacent hood elements 12, 3b to cover the joint between adjacent louvers 27,31 to cover the adjacent louvers 28; and 32 to cover the joint between adjacent panel elements 24. These joint cover elements are formed to a shape similar to the shape of the elements joined, but are of sufficiently larger dimension to snap over the joint elements adjacent to the joint. Similar elements may be provided to cover joints made at both inside and outside corners.

Figure 6 shows a slightly difierent exemplification of the device as seen in section. This exempliiication uses exactly the same back panel 11 and hood 312 as seen in Figure 2, the bracket 16". however is not required to extend upwardly so far as does bracket in, as there is no need for the serrated edged slots 21. Center panel 24" having laterally accessible slots disposed vertically above said pocket means, a bracket means including a depending tongue engageable in each pocket and at a lateral extension disposable through the slots to secure the bracket means to the front face of the back panel, said bracket means further having a forwardly extending portion adapted to receive a finned tube heating unit, a finned tube heating unit supported by said forwardly extending portion, said forwardly extending portion having upper and lower tabs on the front thereof, an intermediate panel having reversely curved upper and lower edges disposed onsaid tabs, additional bracket means secured to 7 said intermediate panel and projecting forwardly thereof,

in Figure 6 has louver elements mounted directly thereon. it will be noted that louver 28' may be, for instance, spot welded to panel 24;" and louver 27 may be similarly spot welded to louver 2d. The vertical portion of louver 27' is preferably provided with openings 33 for passage of heated air.

Both of the exemplifications may desirably be provided with damper means 34 mounted on a prong 44 struck from tongue 17, to provide for adjustment of the flow of air through the device.

As seen in Figure 4, an end cap is provided especially for use where the floor connections to the heating tubes are made, and when an adjusting valve, vent, or other device requiring periodic access may be mounted. This end cap is made up of a vertical channel element 35, the bottom of the channel forming the end wall of the assemblage, the rear flange 36 extending behind back panel 11 and front flange 37 overlying the front edge of hood 12, and of louvers 27 and 28. It will be noted that panels 24 and 24' terminate at a substantial distance from the plane or" channel 35 to provide access to the ends of heat exchange tubes 30 and it). This space is bridged by a panel 38 which is of sufiicient width to extend from the plane of channel 35 to overlap panel 24sufliciently to permit use of a fastening 39 to hold the panel 38 in position. Preferably, panel 38 is hinged at its top edge to a cover element it} which overlies hood 12 and extends part way down the front of the device so the hinge 41 will come in line preferably with louver 27 or 28. This location of the hinge not only gives a somewhat stronger device, but also places the hinge so as to be less subject to damage, and adds to the appearance of the device. The bottom edge of panel 33 is bent inwardly at 42 and the lower end of flange 37 is notched out so that an interlock is formed which may be used as the sole securement for panel That is, fastening 39 may be omitted. Preferably, the end cap is secured to the hood 12 by fastenings 43.

it will thus be seen that the objects hereinbefore set forth may readily and eificiently be attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

it is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. in a baseboard radiator of the type including a back panel adapted to be mounted to the base of the Wall of an enclosure to be heated, a top panel projecting forwardly from the back panel, said back panel having pocket means on the lower portion thereof and further said additional bracket means having upper and lower tabs on the front thereof similar to those on the first bracket means, a front panel similar to the intermediate panel similarly secured to the tabs of the additional bracketmeans, a finned tube heating unit supported by said additional bracket means on the same level as the first finned tube heating unit whereby the back panel, and the intermediate and front panels define straight open ended passages, said depending tongue of the first bracket means extending below tl e panels, tongue means extending forwardly from the said depending tongue at a position between the subjacent pocket and thefinned tube heating unit associated with said first mentioned bracket means, fixed louver means including portions extending forwardly of the back panel and disposed between the bracket means and the top panel and operative to deflect air flowing through the passages forwardly of the front panel and'damper means operatively associated with the forwardly extending tongue means on the first bracket means to regulate the volume of air that enters the lower portion of the passages.

2. A support for a baseboard heating means comprising a back panel adapted to be mounted vertically against the base of a wall adjacent the fioor of an enclosure to be heated, laterally spaced supporting means carried by the back panel and extending forwardly thereof for supporting a finned heating unit, a finned heating unit carried by said supporting means, an intermediate panel also supported by said supporting means and'disposed in front of said heating unit, said intermediate panel having less vertical dimensions than the vertical dimensions of the back panel and disposed intermediate the vertical extent of the back panel so as to define an open ended straight air passage between the intermediate panel and the back panel, additional laterally spaced supporting means supported by the intermediate panel and projecting forwardly thereof, a second finned heating unit supported by said additional laterally spaced supporting means on the same level as the first mentioned heating unit, a front panel corresponding in vertical dimensions to the vertical dimensions of the intermediate panel and secured to said additional supporting means and defining a second and similar air passage parallel to the first air passage, a top extending forwardly of the back panel and disposed in vertically spaced relation above and overiying said air passages, fixed louver means disposed above the passages and comprising a louver element operably associated with each group of laterally spaced supporting means, each louver element having an upwardly extending portion and a forwardly directed portion, the upwardly extending portion of each louver element being connected to each of the laterally spaced supporting means in each group and extending thereabove and the forwardly directed portions of the respective louver elements lying in vertically spaced planes for directing hot air that has passed through the passages forwardly of the front panel and the lower marginal edges of said intermediate and front panels being spaced above the floor to provide a horizontal air inlet to said air passages.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hicks Mar. 27, 1928 Bennett et a1. Dec. 8, 1931 5 Woolley Nov. 26, 1935 Trane et a1 Dec. 15, 1953 6 Carter Jan. 31, 1956 Sjoden June 18, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Schemenauer Baseboard Heating, Catalog No. 954 of Schemenauer Mfg. Corp., Holland, Ohio, page 5, received April 1, 1955. 

